Prayer for Linxiang China

Please click on the link below to see the pictures and video of Linxiang China.  Linxiang is where Elisabeth is from.  It is where she was born and lived for the first 9 months of her life.  They have had terrible floods that have killed 52 people and destroyed villages.  When I look at the pictures and see the people I can't help but wonder if I'm looking at where some of her biological family lives.  It was a very weird feeling as we haven't seen many pictures of this area before because we weren't able to travel there when we were in China and  it's just not an area that you see on the news or in books.  Please pray for the people of Linxiang.

http://photos.world.yes.my/gallery/Landslide_in_Linxiang,_China?image_id=0gfm8a9c6gdDQ

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VNeWW6qBlIQ&feature=youtube_gdata_player

Memorial Day

OK I'm a little late in putting these pictures on the blog but wow has it been busy since the last week of school!  There's always a million little things going on around here.  Anyway......we went to Conyers for Memorial Day and visited with family and hung out at the lake.  It was a great relaxing weekend.

 Enjoying the afternoon by playing outside and blowing bubbles

 The dynamic duo

 Doing a little fishing before heading out on the lake in the pontoon boat

 Swimming with the ducks

Kindergarten Graduation

It's hard to believe that Elisabeth graduated from Kindergarten last week.  How can that be?  She just started yesterday didn't she?  This year has really flown by.  She was so excited to be moving on to 1st grade.  We keep squeezing her to try and keep her small but it isn't working.  She's growing up too fast! 

 Getting ready to walk across the stage

 Getting her diploma from the principal, Mrs. Locklier

 Everyone in the class received an award from Mrs. Harris.  Elisabeth got the award for using her best manners in class.  I guess all that lecturing on saying Yes Ma'am, No Ma'am, please and thank you paid off.  She was listening after all!

 Elisabeth and Mrs. Harris.  She was a great Kindergarten teacher.  Elisabeth had a wonderful first year of school!

 Friends

And the BFF:  Caroline

Jumping

Ansley's last horseback lesson was last Friday and she worked on doing some small jumps.  She was so excited!  She did really well.  My pictures are blurry because it was so incredibly dusty in the indoor ring and it was dark in there too so I just couldn't get a great picture. We are taking a break during the summer and will start lessons again in the Fall. 

 Little jump (or walk over  :-)  )

A little bit higher.....

This is what Elisabeth does to kill time while Ansley rides.  She collects poofy heads (this is what Kailan calls them) and rocks and plays in the dirt. 

Piano Recital

Getting ready to play Minuet in G

 

 Good job Ansley!  :-)

 Ansley with her piano teacher, Mrs. Mechelle

I actually french braided Ansley's hair.  I had to watch how to do it on YouTube but I'm pretty impressed that it turned out so well on my first time.  It was even good enough to go out in public! 

A new colt

The barn where Ansley takes horseback riding lessons has a new colt.  He is so cute!  Ansley got to go in a pet him when he was just 2 days old.  They finally named him and unfortunately they named him Rooster.  Poor horse.   Supposedly it was between Rooster and Wrangler.  Wrangler definitely sounds better don't you think?  

It's a little blurry.....sorry!  I was trying to duck down under the horse to get a good picture  but evidently I wasn't holding the camera very steady.  Isn't he cute? 

Finally......some vacation pictures

I am finally getting around to posting a few vacation pictures.  We had a blast on the cruise and enjoyed getting away from the rainy chilly weather that was here during Spring Break.  Instead we enjoyed hot sunny weather with a whole lot of beautiful caribbean blue ocean.  A much better place to be I think.  We went with our friends, The Burns, and had a wonderful time. 

 Waiting in the terminal to get on the cruise.  We are sooo ready!

 

 Ansley waiting in line for the waterslide

 On the first night we made reservations to eat at the adult only restaurant with our friends, The Burns.  The kids went to the kids area for a few hours and played and had a great time.

 I just love this picture.  The sunset is just beautiful!

 Double Trouble

 Strike a pose

 Key West

 Caroline getting her ears pierced in Key West!

 We met a family on the cruise that we know so their son, Sammy, posed with the girls.  He's so cute!

 The most entertaining and fun meal (in my opinion) is the character breakfast.  The waiters make all kinds of silly hats out of napkins.  The kids LOVE it!

 We went to a tea party with Alice and the Mad Hatter

 Grand Cayman

 Ansley holding a baby turtle at the Turtle Farm in Grand Cayman

 Ansley and I did the dolphin experience and it was great! I wish it had lasted longer!

 Castaway Cay -- one of the best places ever.

 Pirate Night

 You can't take yourself too seriously you know!